HOUSE MEMORIAL 19

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Tomás E. Salazar

A MEMORIAL

PROCLAIMING FEBRUARY 12, 2016 "NEW MEXICO TRiO PROGRAMS DAY" AT THE NEW MEXICO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

     WHEREAS, 2016 is the fifty-first anniversary of the nationwide, federal TRiO student support programs; and

     WHEREAS, all TRiO programs are vested in the notion that committed students deserve an opportunity to obtain higher education without regard to race, gender, national origin or disability status or their family's economic resources or educational background; and

     WHEREAS, seven TRiO programs are funded by the United States department of education, including talent search, upward bound, upward bound math-science, veterans upward bound, student support services, educational opportunity centers and the Ronald E. McNair postbaccalaureate program; and

     WHEREAS, more than one thousand two hundred colleges, universities and community agencies in the country host more than two thousand eight hundred TRiO programs, serving approximately seven hundred eighty-seven thousand young people and adults; and

     WHEREAS, TRiO services include academic tutoring; personal counseling; mentoring; personal and financial counseling; career counseling; workplace and college visits; assistance in applying for college; special instruction in reading, writing, study skills and mathematics; assistance in applying for financial aid; assistance to reenter high school; and other supports to promote college access, retention and graduation; and

     WHEREAS, TRiO programs have been providing educational support and increased access to higher education for disadvantaged students for more than fifty years; and

     WHEREAS, since 1965, an estimated two million two hundred thousand students have graduated from college and more than ten million five hundred thousand Americans from poor and working-class families have benefited from the services of TRiO pre-college and college programs; and

     WHEREAS, in New Mexico, there are thirty-four TRiO programs that bring in over nine million dollars ($9,000,000) in federal funding and serve more than ten thousand students; and

     WHEREAS, the congress of the United States first enacted National TRiO Day in 1986 to recognize the achievements of all TRiO programs and their role in advancing equal opportunity in post-secondary education; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico TRiO Programs Day is meant to increase awareness and garner support for all TRiO programs, TRiO students, college graduates, administrators, counselors and state and federal supporters; and

     WHEREAS, these successful federal programs work to help low-income and first-generation students to enter college and earn a college degree and should be expanded to serve more Americans;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the TRiO programs be recognized for the important role they have played in encouraging and assisting students seeking higher education; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that February 12, 2016 be proclaimed "New Mexico TRiO Programs Day" in the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Carol Hicks, TRiO New Mexico president, at New Mexico state university.

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